GRAND ISLAND — A Texas man has been indicted on capital murder charges in the death of a former Grand Island resident.
Rafael Govea Romero, 23, is accused of murdering Lizbeth Medina, 16, at her Edna, Texas, home on Dec. 5.
A grand jury impaneled in Jackson County, Texas, brought forth the charge.
“That’s what I was hoping for. It’s been a long two months waiting for that charge,” said Lizbeth’s mother, Jacqueline Medina. “I’m just really appreciative to all the prosecutors and all the people working diligently to push for that.”
“We’re very happy and I know my family’s very happy. With all the news we’ve had in the last few months, it’s nice” to get good news, Jacqueline Medina continued.
If convicted, Romero could be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty, according to Texas code. Compared to murder charges, the code regarding capital murder charges lists a number of aggravating factors. In its indictment, the grand jury cites a set of factors, accusing Romero of intentionally causing Medina’s death “while in the course of committing or attempting to commit” burglary, robbery or aggravated sexual assault.
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Lizbeth, a junior, joined the cheerleading team this school year, practicing “day-in, day-out,” her mother said. “She was really happy.”
“It is a relief in many ways. Just good to know this person will not be out, he’s not going to hurt anyone else,” said Lizbeth’s aunt, Ana Medina of Grand Island. “Nothing will ever bring her back, we know. But we’re just happy the prosecutors and Edna police and all the other agencies involved did their work.”
Jacqueline Medina found her daughter dead in the bathroom of the main bedroom at their Texas apartment on Dec. 5.
According to the arrest affidavit for Romero, Jacqueline Medina returned home from work, changed in a hurry and left to watch Lizbeth, a cheerleader, in the town Christmas parade. When cheerleaders passed during the parade, Jacqueline did not see Lizbeth. A text went unreturned, and Jacqueline found out from the cheer coach that she wasn’t at school that day. Lizbeth’s friends reported they hadn’t heard from her all day.
Jacqueline and her friends then returned to the Medinas’ apartment to look for her.
According to the affidavit, a burglary was reported at the apartment on Nov. 13, 22 days before the murder. Authorities believe Romero was involved.
Surveillance video obtained from a neighbor showed what authorities believe was Romero’s vehicle, a silver Ford Taurus, outside the apartment complex around 10 p.m. on Dec. 4, roughly 12 hours before the murder.
“From this, it was believed that the suspect was planning his crime and/or stalking his future victim(s),” Detective Stacy Cavazos wrote in the affidavit.
Medina suffered multiple stab wounds and her clothing was wet, leading authorities to believe the killer had attempted to wash her afterward. Authorities believe the crime happened around 10 a.m. on Dec. 5, based on an interview with a neighbor who heard thuds and then the shower turning on around that time in the victim’s apartment.
Based on interviews with Lizbeth Medina’s boyfriend and friends, authorities believe Romero used her phone to reply to texts after her death, on Dec. 9. Her boyfriend reported that he feared for his safety, because the couple had engaged location sharing on their phones.
“I believed the suspect of this murder was at large and a present danger to the community. I was especially concerned that the person believed to be the murder suspect was texting other high school students, leading me to believe the suspect was targeting students,” Cavazos wrote, adding she believed Romero posed a danger to the public because of the alleged burglary and stalking behavior.
On Dec. 9, authorities petitioned AT&T for an emergency disclosure of the possible location of Lizbeth’s mobile phone. AT&T provided the location, a home in Schulenburg, Texas, about 62 miles north of Edna.
Romero
Officers located the silver Ford Taurus outside the home, interviewed Romero and arrested him. According to the affidavit, authorities found items that belonged to Lizbeth at the home.
After being presented with details from the investigation, a Jackson County grand jury indicted Romero Feb. 5.
“This has been horrible for our family, what we went through and what we’re going through,” Ana Medina said. “It’s been very hard for Jacqueline. She lost her best friend.”
Jacqueline Medina said the months since Lizbeth’s death have been “very terrible.”
“It’s just been waiting. Waiting to get the process started. And just waiting for answers — why this happened, why he did this,” she said. “I’m still in shock. Little by little I’m coming out of it, but it still feels like this isn’t real. It’s still a nightmare.”